"There was minor damage to some of the belongings in the out building," Legler said. There were no injuries.

A neighbor, Bennie Davis, saw Powell outside.

"I saw him come running out of her house into the back. Then he crossed my grass, and he was running," Davis said. "I came out of my house and went over there. She came out. She was dripping with lighter fluid.

"I said, 'Give me the kids,' and I took the babies out. Then their dad came and got them."

Four children were in the home along with Gibson, Powell and a friend at the time of the 8:30 a.m. incident.

Additional charges of failure to identify and probation violation forgery of a financial instrument were also filed against Powell after his arrest.

Davis said she isn't surprised that the couple's argument escalated into violence.

"I have tried to help her out with the kids since I moved in," Davis said. "I told her she needed to get rid of him because he was always beating on her."

Gibson has lived in the rental home at 1703 Avondale about five years, at first occupying the home with her now estranged husband, said Susie Jackson, who oversees the property for an out-of-town landlord.

Gibson said Jackson told her she needs to move out.

"I don't have any place to go," Gibson said, crying.

Davis put her arm around Gibson, consoling her.

"I told her she can come stay with me the rest of the day," Davis said. "She doesn't need to be alone."